Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 264

264. Promise and Trust (3)

I was quietly trying to get to my accommodation when,

“Oh, CEO Kang Hyun-woo!”

Everyone’s attention turned to me because someone recognized me.

Then, nearly ten people rushed towards me at once.

Seeing them filming with cameras and holding out smartphone recorders, I immediately knew they were reporters.

I didn’t think it would be good to say anything, so I was just going to pass by, but,

“CEO Kang Hyun-woo, please say something about the recent situation.”

“Did you really threaten YJ Agency to sign contracts with the current players?”

“What are your plans for the future?”

Because there were so many reporters, it wasn’t easy to get through them.

I had to say something to get inside.

I turned to face the reporters and carefully opened my mouth.

“There were no problems with our contracts with the players. Everything that’s coming out now is completely unfounded.”

I was going to go in after saying just this much, but

The reporters had no intention of letting me go.

“Can you provide concrete evidence that it’s not true?”

“…….”

“Then what is the reason you were able to bring in the best players from YJ Agency?”

“…….”

“I heard you met with a reporter from that media outlet and threatened them, is that true?”

I was going to ignore it and go in, but I couldn’t ignore this question.

I turned to look at the reporter who had just asked the question and answered.

“I have never threatened anyone.”

“I heard you said you would shut down the media outlet immediately. There’s even a video.”

“I never said that. I said they should provide evidence for what they said, or formally apologize for the unfounded story. How is that a threat?”

“Are you sure it’s an unfounded story?”

“Reporter, are you sure you should be asking me that?”

Unknowingly, my voice was getting louder.

“Yes?”

“Did the story from that media outlet have a source? The burden of proof lies with the one raising the issue. It seems strange to ask someone who says it’s an unfounded story to provide evidence, doesn’t it?”

Other reporters were busy filming me raising my voice.

“So you’re saying that the media outlet lied?”

“By any chance, do you know who the reporter who reported the article is, or what company they work for?”

“Yes?”

“If you’re going to cover the story, shouldn’t you accurately check the facts first? You shouldn’t come to me with the content of an article that doesn’t provide any evidence.”

Thud.

Squeak.

Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk came out, as the commotion was felt even inside the accommodation.

Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk pushed through the reporters surrounding me and approached.

“We will make time for a press conference later.”

Then they made a path again and took me inside.

Thanks to the help of the two, I was able to escape the reporters with difficulty.

“Hoo-”

I was able to sit comfortably only after entering the office.

“CEO, you’ve worked hard.”

Lee Joo-hyuk handed me a glass of warm water.

“Thank you.”

I tried to calm down by taking a sip of warm water.

Jung In-gyu, who had already approached, carefully asked me.

“CEO, Fishing TV? What about that place? It’s not a proper place, is it?”

“They seem to be the type who just spew out their own thoughts. You know, the kind of people who just put together things that could be talked about. It’s a place where they just sit at their desks and make up articles.”

“Ha… I can’t believe it. Why is it that what those unreliable guys say spreads like this?”

Jung In-gyu said, struggling to suppress his anger.

“It sounds plausible when you just listen to it. And didn’t you two also suspect me at first?”

“Ah, that’s…”

A faint smile broke out when I saw Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk looking embarrassed.

“Are our players okay?”

“There haven’t been any special incidents yet. But from now on, it might become a bit difficult.”

“Contact the security company right now. We need to make sure there are no problems when entering and leaving the stadium.”

It wasn’t a big deal that I was having a hard time.

I had to prevent the sparks from flying to the players who needed to focus on the game.

* * *

As expected, the reporters’ interest extended not only to me but also to our players.

Related videos were constantly being uploaded to social media.

As soon as I entered social media, I could see a video of reporters asking questions to our players at the very beginning.

The players who received the most attention were Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo of the Buffaloes.

Reporters persistently asked questions to Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo as they tried to enter the stadium.

Because there were security guards right next to them, physical contact could be avoided, but the continuous barrage of questions could not be stopped.

-Oh Seok-hoon! Do you have anything to say about the recent issues raised against Dream Agency?

-…….

-Do you have anything to say to YJ Agency?

-…….

-Please say just one word instead of just passing by. Is it because it’s really the truth?

At the reporter’s last words, Oh Seok-hoon took a deep breath and stopped.

-I don’t understand the current situation at all. I don’t know who spread these rumors.

-Are you sure it’s just a rumor?

-It’s true. Why would I lie?

As Oh Seok-hoon answered, attention now shifted to Park Seong-joo.

-Park Seong-joo, please say something too!

-We absolutely didn’t do anything like that. Please believe us. It’s really not true!

Of course, it wasn’t limited to the Buffaloes.

So Young-joon, whose performance had dramatically improved right before moving to the agency, was also a major target.

-So Young-joon! How did you terminate your contract with YJ Agency? Did you really join forces with CEO Kang Hyun-woo to threaten YJ Agency?

-What nonsense are you suddenly talking about? Who’s threatening who? Don’t believe that kind of talk.

-So Young-joon, are you saying you don’t know anything about it?

-Ah, really! Nothing like that happened!

-Please say something to YJ Agency.

-Why would I suddenly say something to them! I have to go prepare for the game. Get out of the way.

Thanks to the security guards pushing away the reporters who were persistently clinging to So Young-joon, the situation could be ended.

└Aren’t they the same guys after all? They betrayed the agency representative who managed them when they were having a hard time and came out?

└Especially Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, and So Young-joon, I thought they were good guys, but they’re completely bad guys. They abandoned the agency that helped them when they were struggling in the minor leagues as soon as they became first-team starters.

└The timing is amazing too. Look at them abandoning right before FA [Free Agency]. The agency should be making a decent profit by signing FA contracts.

└If the players are all saying they’re being wronged, isn’t it possible that it’s not true?

└Then would they say in front of the camera that they betrayed them? Of course, they’ll say it’s not true, they don’t know.

In addition to Na Joon-ho, Go Ji-hoon, and Jang Soo-young.

All the players who were once under contract with YJ Agency could not avoid the reporters’ questions.

In that way, related videos and articles were being updated every moment.

* * *

Even though it had only been a day, numerous articles were additionally pouring out.

Numerous malicious comments were constantly being posted not only on the agency’s social media but also on the players’ personal accounts.

I sat face to face with Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk in the conference room.

As the situation was, the atmosphere was bound to be heavier than ever.

“CEO, I think we need a different approach. The players must be having a really hard time right now, even if they don’t say it.”

“Hoo- I guess so. But is there a way to solve it right away?”

“There is a way.”

Jung In-gyu put down his pen and answered.

“What is it?”

“As I said last time, we should tell the truth now. Isn’t it just a matter of proving that there were no problems in the process of recruiting the players?”

“Coach Jung, as I said, the story related to YJ Agency should never go outside. There’s no evidence that YJ Agency did it.”

“CEO, why are you doing this so much? Our situation is not a situation to worry about this or that.”

“And in this atmosphere, will people believe us if we say that? I think they’ll think we’re suddenly dragging in the innocent YJ Agency.”

“But there’s no other way besides that.”

“…….”

“CEO, we can’t just be fooled like this. We have to do something.”

Jung In-gyu expressed his frustration and said to me.

“But is YJ Agency really doing that?”

“Then who else would do this?”

“It’s probably just a nameless tabloid company that wants to increase views by making it up.”

“Even so, wouldn’t they need a source to tell this kind of story? Would they suddenly publish this article without anything?”

“Even if that’s the case, would YJ Agency have reported it to such a third-rate media outlet?”

“……?”

Jung In-gyu paused for a moment and looked at me.

“If it’s CEO Lim Ye-ji, she can talk to major domestic sports media at any time. There’s no reason to go to such a strange media outlet.”

“That’s true, but this time, it’s a story that CEO Lim Ye-ji doesn’t want to bring up publicly. It’s an internal conflict within the company, so she’d want to do that kind of story in secret.”

At first glance, this made sense.

But,

-I feel very good because I made the article I made this time the center of attention and increased traffic.

-Busy creating news stories that can attract attention.

As I confirmed in the information window of the person I met earlier, the reporter, or rather, the person I don’t even want to call a reporter, it was clearly a fabricated article, not a report.

“YJ Agency didn’t do it. That’s for sure.”

“What’s the basis for saying that?”

I wanted to show the information window that I could see.

“……. If it’s CEO Lim Ye-ji I know, she wouldn’t do that.”

Jung In-gyu couldn’t hide his frustration when he heard my answer.

“Even if that’s the case. What should we do right now? If our players continue to be harassed by reporters like that, it will inevitably affect their performance.”

“…….”

“Even if YJ Agency didn’t do it, we have to talk about it. This is the truth.”

“Hoo…”

I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair.

After a while, the smartphone screen turned on.

I was afraid of getting neurosis from hearing the vibration sounds so much because of unnecessary calls, so I turned it to silent mode.

I thought that there would be another unnecessary call this time, but,

“Huh?”

I felt surprise and joy at the same time when I saw the name on the smartphone screen.